First Aid Tips

A medical emergency on Board can
threaten the best-laid cruising plan. These first aid tips begin with suggesting you take a good first aid training course and then develop a
well-stocked first aid kit, These are as important as knowledge of your boat's
systems and a proper tool kit.

DISCLAIMER

The first aid information in this
article is meant for basic informational purposes only. It is not
intended to serve as medical advice or substitute for a doctor’s
opinion. Users of this website are advised to consult with their
physician before making any decisions concerning their health. Great-Lakes-Sailing.com
disclaims any responsibility for and shall have no liability for any
damages, loss, injury, or liability suffered as a result of reliance on the information contained herein.

If
you have questions about any medical matter, you should consult
your doctor or other healthcare provider. Do not ever delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or
discontinue medical treatment because of information found here.

By continuing, you agree to these
terms and conditions. If you do
not agree with these,
please do not continue
on in the site.

Everything
begins with preparation. I think the most important first aid tips include a
good first aid course, the creation of a good first aid kit (including a ditch
bag), a review of all prescriptions and the creation of a small
library of reference books.

Good first aid courses can be found in most communities. In Ontario, the Canadian
Red Cross and St. John Ambulance run regular first aid courses. If you live
in a smaller community, you may have to drive to a larger centre to
join a course.

In the Greater Toronto Area, the EMS - Toronto
Emergency Medical Services (the men and women who drive the
ambulances!) offer excellent first aid courses. As well, the Ontario
Workplace Safety Insurance Board has an online directory of 40 companies
across the province that offer recognized first aid courses.

On the American
side of the lakes, the American Red Cross is active in communities in
every Great Lake state. In addition, there are numerous private firms
and organizations offering courses in each state. If you belong to a
yacht club, you could organize a course for members – an excellent,
off-season training activity.

A
proper first aid kit is vital for a cruising boat. There are many commercial
ones available or you can create your own. Personally, I prefer the
later because I can tailor it to suit my needs and desires.
Commercial kits are available from large marine chandleries and
outdoor sports outfitters.

If you need advice on contents, you can
ask your doctor, a pharmacist or another medical professional for
some ideas. I
have put together some ideas on
the contents of a first aid kit. Use this as a starting point to create your
own. I
also believe that you should have an emergency first aid kit in your ditch
bag (you do have a ditch bag, don't you?) It may not be as complete
as your ship's medical kit but it could contain vital first aid necessities.

Review
your prescription medications with your doctor. Ensure that you have
sufficient supplies of needed medications to last your cruise or make
arrangements for refills.

Also, ask your
doctor about any suggestions for your first aid kit.

He or she may have some
prescription medications that they suggest that you carry.

Have copies of any prescriptions on
letterhead and store them with your ship's papers.

There
are many good books on first aid widely available. The Nautical Mind carries
two of the best books - “Where There Is No
Doctor” and “Where There Is No Dentist”. Click on the link
above – The Nautical Mind can ship them wherever you live quickly and inexpensively.

There
are two professional commercial
ship's medical guides:
“The Ship Captain's Medical Guide” and
“The
Ship's
Medicine
Chest
and
Medical
Aid
at
Sea”.
The
former
is a free pdf download from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It
is 229 pages and has been referred to as a 'medical Bowditch'. The
latter, weighing in at about 410 pages, is published and made available by the US Public Health Service for the US Merchant Marine. Copies
of both can be found on the RESOURCES page.

Generally,
most common medical emergencies will fall under one or another of the
following categories: seasickness, wounds, burns, fractures, heart attack, hypothermia (extreme
cold), heat stroke (extreme overheating) and diabetes. Click on the links
below for more detailed information on each of these types of medical
issues.

a practical, easy-to-use yet thorough format to
record all of the necessary information about your boat and any
cruises you take – whether exploring home waters or voyaging to
distant ports across the Great Lakes.

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